Skopje, 1 June 2017 (MIA) - Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Dimitrov, 45, is an experienced diplomat, having served in the Diplomatic Corps of Macedonia for nearly two decades.

Starting his diplomatic career in 1996 as a human rights officer in the Macedonian Foreign Ministry, Dimitrov has extensive experience of public service in foreign and security policy, international dispute settlement, and conflict resolution.

He was appointed as a Distinguished Fellow at The Hague Institute in 2014, taking the office upon the completion of his duties as Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in April 2014.

As a Distinguished Fellow at the Institute, his work centers on enhancing understanding and promoting debate among stakeholders on European integration and transatlantic relations, with special emphasis on democratic governance, rule of law, stability and European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Southeast Europe.

His responsibilities also include the advancement of relations between the Institute and the Diplomatic Corps in The Hague, and the development of partnerships with governments, international and regional organizations, think tanks and NGOs.

Dimitrov studied law at the St. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, where he was awarded with the 26th of July Award established by the Frank Manning Foundation, and received his L.LM degree in International Law from the University of Cambridge, UK. Dimitrov is a PhD candidate at the Institute for Defense and Peace Studies at the St. Cyril and Methodius University and completed the Public Leaders in Southeast Europe Executive Education Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

His career highlights include:

- Ambassador to the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), The Hague, 2009-2014

- Co-Agent before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), 2008-2011

- Special Envoy of the Government for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Brussels, 2007-2008

- National Coordinator for NATO Integration, Skopje, 2006-2009

- Special Envoy in the talks between the Republic of Macedonia and the Hellenic Republic to overcome the difference over the name under the UN auspices, 2003-2008

- Macedonia's Ambassador to the United States, 2001-2006

- National Security Adviser to the President of the Republic of Macedonia, 2000-2001

- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2000

Dimitrov has published a book and a number of articles on foreign policy, national security, human rights and the rule of law. He has broad experience in public diplomacy, participating in public debates and giving lectures at numerous universities on NATO enlargement, European integration, Southeast Europe, international dispute settlement and conflict resolution, both in Europe and in the United States. ik/lk/00:08

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